Final signature count: 1,855

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The Holtsville Wildlife Ecology Center was created to protect injured and unreleasable animals. Instead, many suffered in conditions no facility should allow. A growing record of whistleblower accounts, veterinary concerns, and eyewitness reports describes preventable deaths, untreated medical issues, and deteriorating enclosures that left animals in distress¹.

Honey, a black bear held at the center for decades, showed signs of chronic psychological strain and lived with rotted teeth and repeated infections. Advocates describe her final years as marked by confinement and long-term neglect¹. Other animals endured similar harm. A pig named Wilbur and a deer named Clarice died under circumstances that experts say could have been prevented with timely veterinary care¹. Former staff also reported emaciated animals, moldy food, and cramped enclosures that failed to meet basic welfare standards³.

Warnings Ignored and Evidence Suppressed

Employees who tried to raise concerns say they were discouraged from documenting deaths or reporting the severity of conditions. Some walked away because they could not continue working in an environment where animals were visibly suffering without proper oversight³. One former officer alleged that a mountain lion drowned in its enclosure and that non-veterinary staff cut animals with blades instead of providing medical treatment¹.

There are also claims that medical advice was dismissed. A local veterinary professional said the center resisted recommended treatment when a duck named Nessy was poisoned, leaving the animal at further risk¹. These accounts raise serious questions about whether animals were denied the care they urgently needed.

A Facility Never Designed for Modern Animal Care

The center was operated by a municipal highway department, not an animal-welfare agency. As conditions declined, the system itself failed the animals. Even as officials insisted the site passed inspections, advocates and former workers continued to document suffering that demanded independent review⁴.

The Town Board has since voted to close the zoo and relocate approximately 130 animals, but closure alone cannot resolve what happened—or prevent it from happening again². Only a full criminal investigation can determine responsibility and ensure accountability where evidence warrants.

Call for Justice

Animals at Holtsville depended entirely on human responsibility. If credible allegations are accurate, they were denied the humanity and care they deserved. Accountability honors those animals and protects future ones from harm.

Sign the petition demanding a full investigation and the strongest possible action under New York law.